Ethiopia Receives Su-35 Aircraft from Russia, and S-400 System to Follow

Moscow (Caasimada Online) – The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, stated on Wednesday that his country has received Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, and will also acquire the S-400 air defense system, at a time when new battles are ongoing in the Tigray region, and tensions exist with neighboring Eritrea.

However, there are discrepancies in the information provided regarding the number of aircraft delivered. Abiy stated that Ethiopia has taken possession of "the first 12 aircraft," while the Russian state company responsible for arms exports, Rosoboronexport, told Reuters that the first batch delivered to the Ethiopian air force consisted of two Su-35 aircraft.

Abiy mentioned in a post he published on X that enhancing the preparedness of Ethiopian forces provides the country with the capability to prevent aggression before it occurs.

He added that a previous agreement with Moscow also stipulates that Ethiopia will be provided with four units of the S-400 air defense system. He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for delivering the aircraft a year ahead of the agreed timeline.

The Prime Minister did not disclose the value of the agreement, the timing of the delivery of the S-400 systems, or the locations where this military equipment will be deployed.

The Su-35 is a fighter aircraft capable of performing various missions, and is used for engaging other aircraft and striking ground and naval targets. The S-400 is an air defense system that uses surface-to-air missiles to target long-range aerial threats.

Abiy is in Moscow, where the Russia-Africa summit opened on Wednesday. The two countries signed military cooperation agreements in 2021 regarding the modernization of forces, technology transfer, and training.

The head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheyev, told Russian state television that African countries account for more than 30 percent of the company's arms orders.

The Eritrea Tension

The acquisition of these weapons comes at a time when relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated, as they severed their diplomatic ties this month.

This move has reversed the rapprochement between the two countries, which during the previous Tigray war led to Eritrean forces fighting alongside those of the Ethiopian federal government.

Addis Ababa is now accusing Asmara of supporting Tigray rebels, a claim that Eritrea has denied.

In a letter sent this month to the United Nations Security Council, Ethiopia argued that it is exercising its right to self-defense. It accused Eritrea of sending troops across the border and seizing Ethiopian territory.

Eritrea has dismissed these accusations, describing Ethiopia's position as a “declaration of war.”

Ethiopia, which became landlocked when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, describes access to a seaport as vital to its existence and claims it wants to reach a dialogue. Eritrea, for its part, accuses Addis Ababa of intending to seize its port of Assab on the Red Sea.

The President of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, has also traveled to Russia to participate in the summit.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that Moscow is ready to host and facilitate a meeting between the two leaders, should they show interest in dialogue.

Tigray Conflicts

On the other hand, the Ethiopian federal forces and allied troops have retaken the city of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, and other towns, following an offensive launched in September by a coalition of rebel groups led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

The Abiy government appointed a transitional administration for the region on October 16, granting it six months to restore public services, repair damaged infrastructure, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and prepare the region for elections.

However, the fighting is still ongoing. The U.S.-based Critical Threats Project published an assessment on Tuesday stating that federal forces and TPLF troops were still engaged in combat in the northwest of the city of Shire.

The previous Tigray war, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. It was concluded with an agreement brokered by the African Union, which was signed in November 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Unmanned aerial vehicles brought in from abroad assisted federal forces in recovering from setbacks on the battlefield.

The African Commission on Human Rights and Peoples has warned this month that the renewed fighting could lead to a return of large-scale displacement, destruction, and humanitarian crises from the previous conflict.

The Commission has urged the parties to resolve the outstanding issues through dialogue, negotiation, and confidence-building measures, to prevent the conflict from escalating further.